The worldwide Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) voted overwhelmingly on Friday to suspend the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) following allegations of widespread and state-sponsored doping.
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The Russian Anti-doping Agency (RUSADA) will have to prove it can operate “independently of Russia” if the Russian team is to participate in the Rio Olympics, according to Dick Pound, author of the damning World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) doping report.
He added: “The best way to protect clean athletes is to be unflinching in our commitment to them and not just in words”.
The IAAF said priority for both the governing body and Russian Federation was to make ARAF “compliant with the IAAF”.
Mr Bach also said he was confident Russian athletes would take part in the Rio Olympics. “They have to act swiftly because this concerns the credibility of all the efforts”. The IOC President hopes that Russia’s tarnished sporting reputation will be repaired “as soon as possible” following a meeting with ROC President Alexander Zhukov.
“We had to withhold a few information relating to the worldwide athletics federation because of the possibility that if we disclosed it, it would jeopardise ongoing criminal enquiries that are being conducted by the French police”.
On Tuesday, WADA temporarily removed its accreditation of Moscow’s anti-doping laboratory following a recommendation from the commission. “This compliance requires verification”.
Zelichenok said more domestic competitions will be launched this winter to replace the global events that Russian athletes are now barred from.
He said: “Could I, should I have inserted myself into the three independent investigations?” “For me, this is pure speculation at this point”.
However, the IAAF action fell short of stating explicitly that Russian athletes would be barred from the Olympics, raising the prospect that they would be allowed to compete after all.
Frank Fredericks is an IOC Member, Chairman of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission and a former Chairman of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
“This is mere speculation”, Bach said.
IAAF President Sebastian Coe commented: “After consultation with WADA, we will set the verification criteria. That’s why I think it was extremely important him winning in Beijing”.
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“What can I do now, or what could I have done, for this decision not to have been made?”
